Copyright Violations? No Way!

A current concern regarding Pinterest centers on the potential for copyright violations. In simple terms, copyright infringement occurs when someone’s content is used without permission.

When you agree to the terms and conditions of being a Pinterest member, you agree to respect and uphold copyright and other laws related to content. That means you (not Pinterest) are responsible for any copyright violations that may occur when you pin or repin content.

Here are some guidelines to help avoid copyright infringement when using Pinterest.

1. Ensure you are crediting the original source when pinning or repinning content to your boards. Pinterest’s Pin Etiquette guidelines note that Pins are most useful when they have links back to the original source. Finding the original source is preferable to secondary sources like image search results or blog entries.

Many website owners and bloggers repost images from other sites. They may or may not cite the source. Whether pinning or repinning, it’s always a good idea to follow the link trail back to make sure you are referencing the original source.

2. Check the original source for a copyright notice or instructions on how content can be used. Site owners sometimes specify guidelines for how their material can be used.

If content can be used with permission, contact the owner before pinning it to your boards. If material can be used if the source is credited, pin the image directly from the owner’s site and not a secondary source.

3. As with the pin in the image shown, you can also consider listingthe source directly in your comments for the pin. This pin points to HGTV instructions for how to frame a plate glass wall mirror.

Do you have other suggestions for avoiding copyright violations on Pinterest?

Also in this series

Teresa Simon has worked for over a decade in management consulting and for Microsoft. She’s currently on hiatus with her young children and works as a freelance writer. She has written for Focus on the Family and blogs about using everyday life to teach kids about God.

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Ann Onnimus

You are not a lawyer, do not give people legal advice!

Proper attribution does not protect you in any way, shape or form against a copyright infringement lawsuit. It does literally nothing. Most websites do not specify copyright permissions. The only way to be safe is to have a written permission for every pin.

Ann Onnimus

You are not a lawyer, do not give people legal advice!

Proper attribution does not protect you in any way, shape or form against a copyright infringement lawsuit. It does literally nothing. Most websites do not specify copyright permissions. The only way to be safe is to have a written permission for every pin.

Ann – I didn’t get the sense that Teresa is giving “legal advice” — these are suggested GUIDELINES for people to follow so they more aware that most images are copyrighted, and that the pinner is responsible for anything he or she pins or repins.

Ann – I didn’t get the sense that Teresa is giving “legal advice” — these are suggested GUIDELINES for people to follow so they more aware that most images are copyrighted, and that the pinner is responsible for anything he or she pins or repins.